According to several online Spanish newspapers, Jarque was found dead during Espanyol's pre-season, in Coverciano, Florence, Italy. He was on the phone with his girlfriend in the team hotel when he suffered a heart attack.

Some other news sources say that Jarque's girlfriend, who was seven months into her pregnancy,[7] reported his absence to his roommate Ferran Corominas.[1][8]

On 11 July 2010, during the FIFA World Cupfinal, close friend Andrés Iniesta celebrated his 116th minute-winning goal by removing his jersey to reveal an undershirt with the sentence "Dani Jarque siempre con nosotros" ("Dani Jarque, always with us").[11] Two years later, after Spain conquered UEFA Euro 2012, Fàbregas again donned a T-shirt during the trophy celebrations to commemorate Jarque's death.